The Tale of the Spinning Wheel

audiobook

The Tale of the Spinning Wheel

by Elizabeth C. Barney (Elizabeth Cynthia Barney) Buel

EN·~1 hours·1 chapter

Chapters

1 total

Transcriber’s Note:

1:02:21

Description

The opening of this work invites listeners into a warm, reverent meditation on the humble spinning‑wheel, framing it as a timeless emblem of women’s industrious spirit. Drawing vivid images from ancient sarcophagi, stone reliefs and prehistoric lake‑dwelling artifacts, the author shows how the simple act of turning fiber into thread has mirrored the essential partnership between home and field across the ages. With gentle humor and scholarly care, the narrative weaves together tales of queens, peasants and everyday mothers, reminding us that the wheel’s quiet spin has always been a subtle thread in the fabric of civilization.

Continuing its journey, the essay travels from Egyptian dynasties to medieval Europe, tracing the spinning‑wheel’s evolution from a crude distaff of tree‑trunk fibers to the finely crafted tools that graced noble courts. Along the way, it highlights the social meanings attached to spinning—how “homemade” and “homespun” became badges of pride and autonomy for generations of women. Listeners will find a thoughtful celebration of labor, heritage and the enduring dignity that lives in every turn of the wheel.

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Details

Language

en

Duration

~1 hours (59K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Credits

Produced by Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Release date

Feb 23, 2019

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

Subjects

About the author

EC

Elizabeth C. Barney (Elizabeth Cynthia Barney) Buel

1868–1943

A writer and local historian from Litchfield, Connecticut, she connected everyday objects and community stories to the larger sweep of American history. Her best-known work, The Tale of the Spinning Wheel, reflects the same mix of patriotism, craft, and curiosity that shaped much of her public life.

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